Rozy asks…A-Revitol hair removal creme says that it’s so gentle you can use to remove pubic hair. I know that is a very delicate area so I am skeptical. Whats the deal?
The Right Brain replies:
The product in question is A-Revitol Hair Removal Cream. Here’s the deal on the product claims and the likelihood that it will live up to those claims.
How do hair removal creams work?
All hair removal creams work essentially the same way: by using chemicals that dissolve the hair to a point where it can be wiped off. Since the hair is removed at (or just below) the surface of the skin, there’s no razor stubble so your skin feels smoother than if you had shaved. Most products use a combination of two type of ingredients to dissolve hair: a thioglycolate and a hydroxide.
Is A-Revitol more gentle?
Any product potent enough to dissolve hair has the potential to irritate skin but this product is formulated to be on the gentle side because it only uses one of these two ingredients we just mentioned. In this case it uses calcium hydroxide. That means it’s somewhat less likely to irritate skin but it will also be somewhat less effective at removing hair.
Is A-Revitol is a better product?
If you have really sensitive skin you might be better off with this product compared to a standard depilatory like Nair. However, since this product is almost 4 times the cost of Nair, you should probably try that one first to see if it works for you. (A-Revitol costs about $20 compared to $5 for Nair’s Bikini Cream.)
Does the product do what it claims?
The key claim that the company makes is that it’s safe enough to use anywhere, which is true enough as long as you follow their instructions to patch test it on your skin first. They are prone to some exaggeration, however. They say that A-Revitol will “get rid of hair in seconds” even though instructions tell you “leave the cream on for 12 to 15 minutes.” I guess “instant” is a relative term. The website mentions that “we sell countless numbers of these as we move toward a hair less society.” If they’re unable to count how many sales they make, they might want to fire their accounting department. And I guess I missed the official announcement about the new hairless society.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
A-Revitol appears to be a pretty standard hair removal product, but it might be right for you if you have really sensitive skin and you don’t mind paying a lot more.
A-Revitol Hair Removal Cream Ingredients
Water, Calcium Hydroxide, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Peg-75 Lanolin, Glycerin, Aloe Vera Extract, Fragrance.
Image credit: http://s0.geograph.org.uk/
